I Understand. An AU/punk story.

A buick rolled around the corner a few minutes later. I opened the car and got in, finding a frazzled Rhonda and a sleeping Audrey in the backseat.

"Hi, thank you so much for watching her, I wouldn't of asked if it wasn't important." She mumbles.

"No it's fine, whats up? Whats wrong?" She scowls out her windshield.

"My place or yours?" I thought about it, Harry would worry if I disappeared and might get the worng idea.....

"Mine. But whats going on?" Taking note at her attempt to avoid the question...

"It's personal..." OK???!

"Oh, alright.." I mumble.

-

When we pull up to my place I get out and go to the backseat and open the door, as I reach for Audrey she wakes up and starts to cry, I put her on my hip and start bouncing her lightly, trying to calm her down while I grab the little pink suitcase with her stuff.

"When can you come get her? Or do you want me to keep her for the night and bring her to work in the morning?" I ask through the car window.

"Tomorrow if you could, thank you so much but I really need to go. I'm sorry for the burden." She puts it in drive and speeds off, leaving me and her screaming daughter in the dark street.

"It's OK, Aubs, Didy's here." I coo, carrying her upstairs. Getting on my floor and trying to get my keys out I don't notice the figure leaning against my apartment door. I look up and guess who I see??!

Louis.

I groan and slap him out of the way of my lock, doing my best to ignore him.I try desperately to balance the tot and her bag and unlock the door.

"You need help?"

"NO!" I snap, of course Aubrey starts crying hard now I'm yelling. Louis scolds me with his eyes and take Aubrey from me as I open the door and go in to my living room. He come sin and closes the door behind us.

"Hey, Aubrey, you better stop crying or the tickle monster is going to get you!" He says in his baby voice, tickling her she stops crying, poor girls tired.

"Uncle Douis, wheres ma?" She asks softly, he looks to me for help.

"Shes out doing stuff mommies do. But tonight you get to spend time with uncle Didy and Harreh!" I tell her happily.

"Aw, Harreh? Don't you wan't uncle Douis?" Louis asks her, looking at me he winks and smiles, looking back down at his cousins daughter.

"I want all of you..." She whines, confused by why she has to chose.

"Life doesn't work that way munchkin." He says softly, carrying her to the couch we take a seat. I want to ask him to leave but I'm too tired. "Sit here and behave, auntie Didy is tired." He tells her, getting off the couch and going to the couch.

"Didy go night night?" She asks in her adorable high pitched voice. I smile down at her and she puts her small hands on my eyes, trying to make me go to sleep. Louis puts a kettle for tea on and comes back to the living room he stops in front of me and takes me heels off before joining me back on the couch.

"I'm real sorry..." He says softly as Audrey goes to Leroy and Marcel, who sniff and kiss her eagerly.

"For?''

"Bothering you, coming on too strong." We talk but don't look at each other.

"Not for kissing me when I'm dating your best friend?" I challenge, leaning my head back slightly.

"No. I love kissing you." He smiles, taking a glance at me as Audrey screams like a lunatic and chases the dogs around the couch. I roll my eyes but ignore the stiring in my stomach at his words.

"I'll talk with you but Harry's going to be back any moment, you should go.." I sigh and get up, going to get the screaming kettle. He follows me and leans against the counter as I add a tea bag and turn to him.

"OK, but when?"

"I really can't tell you yet.. but I will when I figure out... but honestly you need to go now." I look down at my bare feet and he sighs, scratching the back of his head he turns to me and looks down at me as if hes expecting something. "What?"

"Nothing, nevermind." He breaths, leaving. "Audrey, come give me kisses, Douie has to go home now."

"Why, Douie?" She whines, running to his legs and wrapping her arms around them.

"Uncle has to go to bed, squirt." He smiles, kneeling down in front of her, she kisses his lips and hugs him. He laughs and smiles at the cuteness overload.

"Bye bye!" She screams as he opens the door I go to him to see him out, closing the door slightly I stand in the hall.

"I'll see you later." He says softly, leaning down slightly he pecks my cheek, but his head doesn't leave. He leans his forehead on mine. I look in to those beautiful eyes, frozen from moving as he stares in to what feels like my soul. "Night, L." And then he's gone.

I go back in to the apartment and find four unread texts but I don't bother to open them, knowing they're from Harry.

"Audrey, lets go get ready for bed!" She pouts and crosses her arms but I scoop her up and carry her and her bag to my room none the less. "Did you eat diner?"

"Nope." She says happily. Oh boy. I glance at my alarm clock, it's 10:30. I frown at the little girl, Rhonda must be a terrible parent or really must have something crazy going on with her.

I sigh and carry her to the kitchen and open the fridge and freezer.

"What looks good?" I ask her. She squints at the food in my fridge, leaning her head on mine she points to the chicken nuggets. Rae loved chicken nuggets. No, I don't now why. Yes, I have confronted her about the weirdness of it all. No, she hasn't stopped eating them since then. I put her in front of the TV and put on the Disney Channel and let her tune out to some show while I cook her food.

I hear the front door open and close.

"HARREH! DIDY, IT"S HARREH!" She screams, I don't say anything, just take the nuggets from the oven and put them on a plate, along with a little cup of milk and some apple sauce. I hear Harry talk to the toddler before his footsteps make their way in to the kitchen behind me.

"Lilian, why did you just disappear like that? I was worried." His hands find my hips, I walk out of his grip.

"Audrey, come here honey." She runs in to the kitchen and the dogs follow her, panting happily with their new found friend. I pick her up and put her on the chair so she can eat. But of course shes too short for the table so I let her eat in the living room on the couch.

"Lilian, please don't ignore me.." Harry begs, taking my hand he leads me to my room and shuts the door slightly.

"I'm not." I snap, protesting when he tries to pull me in between his legs. He gives me sad eyes so I huff and shake my head. "OK, what?"

"Why did you leave? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Rhonda need someone to watch Audrey for the night and because I was mad." I admit, sitting next to him on the bed. His arm wraps around my waist.

"Why were you mad?"

"Because of what you did." I wasn't going to make this easy for him.

"I'm sorry, I was just mad! You're so damn good looking and every single guy gives you the bedroom eyes and it drives me crazy!" He stresses, running a hand through my hair.

"Why? Who cares what a few pricks think?" I'm getting slightly irritated with this boy... He gets up and groans, pacing in front of me.

"I do because I don't want you to find one that isn't a prick!" He hisses, rubbing his face.

Oh.

I see.

"You think I'm going to find someone else?" I ask him softly.

"Of course I do! Look at you!" He snaps, his eyes racking up my body. I frown and look down.

"Harry -"

"No, Lilian. You don't realize how amazing you are and I do. And so do a lot of other guys! And I don't know what I'm going to do if I ever lose you! So I'm sorry!" He groans again and flops on his back on the bed next to me. "I'm the jealous type, what can I say?" He grouches...

I sigh and look at him, his hands covering his face. Audrey calls for me. I crawl up next to him and put my hand on his toned torso.

"I know you are. But you don't need to be. I love you and thats all there is to it. So just learn to trust me. " I say simply before going out to Audrey."Read for bed?"

"NO!" She giggles and screams, trying to run away from me but I laugh and chase her, scooping her in to my arms I carry her to my room where Harry's sitting on the edge of my bed looking glum.

"Go get your jammies on." I tell her, handing over the pink night down with little crowns on it. She takes them and skips to the bathroom. I go and stand between Harry's legs, take a handful of his hair and tilt his head up. His hands find my ass."Please don't be like this. I hate when you're all moody with me." I pout. He looks up at me and gives a small smile.

"Sorry.... I love you." I smile down at him and Audrey comes running out of the bathroom. I scoop her up and lay her in the middle of the bed and go put on a pair of my sweats and a T shirt. I come back and freeze in the door way.

Harry is propped up on his elbows next to her, tucking her under the quilts as she leans her tiny head back on my massize pillows.

"And then, and then, Harreh, mamma said, Go away! And he did!" She says sleepily. Harry smiles down at her, paying close attention to every word shes saying as if its a scripture and not the ramble of a tired child.

"Well tell you what, if anyone eve doesn't leave you alone, just give em a knuckle sandwich." He informs the three year old. I face palm. It was a cute try though. I join them in bed and we all get under the covers. I turn on the Disney channel and let her watch until she falls asleep.

A few shows later I hear a quiet snore and look over and find Harry's head slumped lightly on hers, both sleeping, her hand holding his thumb. I smile at the cute exchange, turn the TV off and fall asleep.

Notes